Improvement in horse hay-rakes



`CHARLES ROLLIN ME'RRIAM, 0F MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELE AND W. H. MERIAM, OF STRATEORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Letters Patent N 0. 110,7?1, dated January 3, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE HAV-RAKES.

The Schedule referred to in these lLettws atent an making part of the same.

To all whom 'it 'may concern.-

of Vermont, have invented certain new and use ful .Improvement-s in Hay-Rakes; and I do hereby Adeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings and to the letters of refereneemarked thereon which form a part of this speciication.

'lhe nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of an improved horse hay-rake, as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

In order to ,enable others. skilled 'in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation; and

Figure 2, a plan view of my rake.

A represents a bar -oi'lsuitabie dimensions, haw ing, near each end on its under side, two standartis, between which the wheels B are -snitably pivoted.

`Fro1n the bar A the shafts G O project forward, and a plat-form is suitably arranged for supporting the driver-s seat D.

From eachv end of lthe bar A an arm, E, extends downward and toward the rear.

In ears outherear side of the `bar A is placed a rod, upon which all the rake-teeth are hinged. These teeth form an acute angle, and in the long arm G of each tooth is a joint, in which is a spring, a, slot b, and guide d, or their equivalents, ar-

ranged as shown in g. 1, to keep the teeth steady and in place.'

This joint is to prevent breakage of teeth, when an obstruction is met, as the teeth then assume perpendicular position, and the arm G, working on the'rod connecting it to the frame, flies up, leaving the tooth i'cc to drop again into position.

On the samerod which connects the tooth-arms G G to the frame is also hinged a frame, H. and a supporting-bar, I. l,

In the lower part ot' the hinged frame II is a revolving. bar, J, to each cud of which is attached a cani, li.

011e of these cams is, by a Pitman, e, crank f, arm g, and journal L, eonnectedavith a lever, L, means of which the teeth arc elevated.

By a slight sudden movement of the lever L forward, the cams K K are thrown-over forward; the

longest point striking the surface ot' the groun't't,

causes the whole to rise at once, as they revolve under, and then on the periphery of. the receding circle let the teeth gradually fall to the ground.

On the hinged frame H are adjustable studs fm, m, which, when the frame is thrown upward, strike the supporting-bar I. l

Each of the studs m is made of two pieces se cured together by a screw, which vscrew passes through an elongated slot in one of said pieces, so that the studs can readily be lengthened'and shortcned at will. Y

By throwing the lever L back, and dropping it ou the frame, the studsm on raise the supporting-bar I and consequently elevate the teeth, holding them firmly i-n place for transporting from oneeld or place to another.

By adjusting the elevating-studs m m, the elevating of the teeth to heavy or light work,'as may be required, is readily regulated.

lhe lever M, in front connected byv a pitman, n, to a bar, N, hinged to the frame H, and having a similar adjustable stud, m,bearing on-said frame, is for the purpose of partially elevating the teeth for backing.'

Another lever, O, attached-to the hinged frame H, canbe used for the same purpose; also, to discharge the load by liaud, when required.

rIhe clearing-bars P P, placed under the'tootharms G G, in the arms E E of the fran1e,`aud over the points offthe teeth, are used, in eom-, biuatiou with the4 mechanism, to free the teeth of their load quickly and surely, rendering uniform work.

x a'.1'epreseut the rake -tecth, the upper ends of which, it will be observed, are turned upward and provided with a hole.

yy are ferrulesV itting ou the ends of the arms I place a tooth on each side of each arm through the ferrule, and then connect the two teeth by slipping a pin through the holes in their heads,'so that the said pin will rest upon the upper side of the arm.

It will thus be secu that I not only securely fasten the teeth, but dividev the strain to which they are subjected between the ferrule and the pin.

The driver, ti'oin' his'seat D, has full control of the whole rake. v

Haring thus fully described my invention,

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let-- ters latont, is-

f .1..The adjustable elevating-studs 'nt m, attached .'t the hinged frame H, in combination with sup porting-bar -I, substantialiy as and for the purpose set forth. i

2. The combination of frame H, bar N, and ndjustable stud m', with adjustable studs m m, and elevating-bar I, substantially as described.

3. The jointed arm G, provided with guides d, slot, b, and spring a, as andl for the purpose set forth.

4. The teeth a: as, constructed as described, in combination with arm G, ferrule y, and the pin which connects the teeth, all arranged substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing ns my own, I nix my signature in presence of two wit nesses.

CHARLES ROLLIN MERRIAM.

Witnesses: t

AMASA S. TRACY, GEO. W. PINNEY. 

